Safety apparatus for mine vehicles



Sept. 29, 1942. J. T. TACKETT SAFETY APPARATUS FOR MINE VEHICLES Filed Aug. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 29, 1942. .1. T. TACKETT Inventor zmwzizw r fi Attorney Sept. 29, 1942. J. "r. TACKETT SAFETY APPARATUS FOR MINE VEHICLES Filed Aug. 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 llll H HIHI e H m a /w a L I Z WM? 5 m M 7 y B J A Home Patented Sept. 29, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENTQOFFICE SAFETY APPARATUS FOR MINE VEHICLES James T. Tackett, Grass Valley, Calif.

Application August 26, 1941, Serial No. 408,401

1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in safety means for mine cars and elevators.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide automatic brake means for mine cars which will operate upon a break occurring in the operating cable thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the followind description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary top plan view showing a mine car and the present invention in broken lines installed thereon.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a mine tunnel or shaft showing in side elevation a mine car equipped with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the brake mechanism.-

Figure 4 is a front end elevational view.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen in Fig. 2, that numeral 5 denotes a mine shaft or tunnel having a mine trackway 6 therein. This trackway includes ties I and between the rails of the trackway are closely spaced rails 8, 8 for use in conjunction with the present invention.

Numeral 9 denotes a mine car having wheels l riding the trackway 6 and numeral ll generally refers to the present invention which is cooperative with the auxiliary rails 8, 8.

In carrying out the present invention, it can be seen that numeral I2 denotes a plate having upwardly disposed and flanged end walls l3 secured to the bottom side of the car 9.

Secured in a position extending transversely across the plate I2 is a bar H. The intermediate portion of this bar I4 is offset downwardly as at l to afford clearance for upper and lower links l8 and IT. The outer end portions of the bar ll are suitably spaced from the plate l2 by suitable spacing means and interposed between these spaced end portions of the bar are bellcrankshaped levers I 8, the heel portions ofwhich are pivotally secured in place by bolts l9 passing through the plate l2, heel portions of the levers l8 and the bar lg. One end of each of these levers l8 has a col ar-like structure while the otheror diverged end portion is serrated as at 2| for biting engagement with the corresponding auxiliary rail 8.

the corresponding collar-like structure 20 and the adjacent lug 22 is a coiled compression spring 25. These springs have a tendency to rock the levers l8 in a direction with the serrated edges 2| of the levers against the auxiliary rails 8, 8.

As shown in Figure 3, the upper and lower links l6 and I! have their inner ends bolted together, by a bolt 26 extending downwardly through openings in the adjacent ends of the said links. Numeral 2! denotes a hauling cable which extends to connect to a slide rod 35, this rod extending through a lug 36 and being connected to the bolt 26. A coiled compression spring 31 is located on this slide rod and interposed between the said bolt are the links I6, I6 and the lug 36, so that in the event the cable 21 breaks the spring 3'! will function along with the springs 25, 25 to cause operation of the levers I8. In other words, this spring 31 is an added precaution that the levers l8, I8 will operate even though the springs 25, 25 become defective.

A bar 28 is disposed across the top of the plate l2 and has depending end legs 29, 29 which overlap the auxiliary rails 8, 8 and prevent spreading of the said rails when the brake mechanism is operated.

It can now be seen that in the event the cable 21 breaks, the springs 25 will act to rock the levers l8 and cause the serrated ends 2| to bite against the auxiliary rails 8, 8, thus stopping the car 9.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In combination, a wheeled-vehicle, a trackway, brake means on the vehicle, a draft cable for the vehicle, said cable being directly connected to the brake mechanism and adapted to release said brake mechanism when under tension and to apply said brake when released, said brake mecha nism comprising a pair of rockable levers having track engaging ends, spring means engaging the opposite ends of the levers for forcing the firstmentioned ends into frictional contact with the rails, toggle links connected with the levers,

. means connecting the cable to the toggle, spring Lugs 22 depend from the side edges of the plate l2 and short flanges 23, 23 are struck from the plate l2 and depend as suggested in Figure 3. Interposed between each lug 22 and its 0pposed flange 23 is a guide rod 24 which also extends through the collar-like structure 20 of the corresponding lever I83,

On each of the rods and interposed between means urging the links in a direction to apply the brake, said cable when in hauling tension moving the links in the opposite direction for releasing said brake, and .means for engaging upon the opposite sides of the rails to prevent spreading of the rails upon application of the brake.

JAMES T. TACKE'I'I. 

